Towing

[Nulla]

Anyone have experience towing about 1500 pound, my rig is jb 500 camper I am thinking of towing a motorcycle trailer. What do you think is the effect on the cruise speed and climbing, I currently cruise at 55 mph with no incline.thx

 

[Growlerbearnz]

I tow a 2000lb caravan, sometimes with the van loaded up to about 5500lb. With my old 4D56 engine and automatic gearbox it was happiest with the engine revving at 3000rpm, which is about 52mph (with overdrive off or 4th gear if it's a manual).

Don't tow in 5th gear or with the overdrive on, the gearboxes just aren't strong enough for that.

It would slow down a *lot* on hills and you'd have to keep an eye on the exhaust temperature, but on the flat would be fine.

The new D4BF is much better. It's still happiest around 3000rpm, but it'll do 60mph on the highway (3500rpm) without overheating. Climbing hills is much better, it still slows down but the exhaust temperature won't go above 1200F so I can use full throttle all the time if needed.

 

[Nulla]

I tow a 2000lb caravan, sometimes with the van loaded up to about 5500lb. With my old 4D56 engine and automatic gearbox it was happiest with the engine revving at 3000rpm, which is about 52mph (with overdrive off or 4th gear if it's a manual).

Don't tow in 5th gear or with the overdrive on, the gearboxes just aren't strong enough for that.

It would slow down a *lot* on hills and you'd have to keep an eye on the exhaust temperature, but on the flat would be fine.

The new D4BF is much better. It's still happiest around 3000rpm, but it'll do 60mph on the highway (3500rpm) without overheating. Climbing hills is much better, it still slows down but the exhaust temperature won't go above 1200F so I can use full throttle all the time if needed.

Thank, I will be towing way less, i would say no more than 1500 pound (it’s a motorcycle with side car), i have standard transmission. I did not think there was much difference in performance between 4D56 and 4DBF I though 4DBF is just a newer engine.

 

[Growlerbearnz]

I did not think there was much difference in performance between 4D56 and 4DBF I though 4DBF is just a newer engine.

You're right, a new D4BF doesn't make much more power than a new 4D56, but it makes a *lot* more power than an old, worn 4D56 with 250,000km on it.

 

[Nulla]

You're right, a new D4BF doesn't make much more power than a new 4D56, but it makes a *lot* more power than an old, worn 4D56 with 250,000km on it.

Thanks my 4d56 only have 76,000km on it. I plugged the relieve valve and been pushing it a bit more, cruising at 12 pound boost and 1200 F egt max. Other suggestion to get more performance is appreciated. Thx

 

[Growlerbearnz]

Those are good numbers for reliability, especially on a heavy van like the camper, and about as far as you want to push a standard motor if you want it to last.

To get more performance the next step would be to fit an intercooler, then a larger turbo that will do 16psi efficiently, and then adjust the fuelling to match. However the performance increase won't be very much relative to the cost: maybe 10-15% more power if you're lucky.

 

[Nulla]

Those are good numbers for reliability, especially on a heavy van like the camper, and about as far as you want to push a standard motor if you want it to last.

To get more performance the next step would be to fit an intercooler, then a larger turbo that will do 16psi efficiently, and then adjust the fuelling to match. However the performance increase won't be very much relative to the cost: maybe 10-15% more power if you're lucky.

Thank, I think for now i will stick with my 4d56 until the time comes to replace to 4DBF.